Kouzounas Kitchen

09/08/2026

Following our Mani series, we have our favorite dessert on the blog today! When in Mani, you must try this!
Galatopita - Milk Pie is so easy to make. Simple ingredients like milk, eggs, semolina, citrus zest, and more make this dessert pop! We don't use phyllo dough in our pie, rather we like it on its own. 💪
Grab the recipe on our blog and let us know what you think! 💙
Don't forget to pair this dessert with a Greek coffee. 👌

Galatopita fan? Let us know! 💙🤍
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdAjTEBq4B2/?stkn=Y2M0eWlka2lvNnp0

Also, I share one of my favorite Mani tavernas in this post! Check them out! 📍

Recipe link:
https://kouzounaskitchen.com/2026/09/07/galatopita-just-like-yiayias-milk-pie-from-mani

09/06/2026

Let’s take a trip to Gytheio, Mani — virtually! 📍💙🤍

After road-tripping from Thessaloniki to Mani and Athens to Mani, I can officially say… put Gytheio in your maps! 😂 With the newer roads, getting here is so much easier!

📍 So, where is Gytheio?
Gytheio sits on the eastern shore of the Mani peninsula and is one of the main gateways into Mani. It’s about 40 km from Sparta, and you MUST visit Kranai Island while you’re here!

Now that you’ve arrived, here are a few of my favorites:

💊 Visit my family’s pharmacy — look for Kalapothakos! Nikoleta & Stavroula will take care of you, and I LOVE their skincare!
👗 Shop at my theia’s clothing store
☕ Grab a coffee and enjoy the water views
🛍️ Walk the port and find Maniatiko goodies like lalagia, pasteli & hilopites
🏛️ Visit the museum & beautiful park — our family name is actually in the museum! 😂
🍽️ Try tsouxti, Maniatiko omelet, kagianas (strapatsada), lalagia & orange/pork salad, loukaniko, diples, galatopita, selino and pork, siglino, and much more!
🥙 And PLEASE visit Travixtes for their traditional pita, Maniatiko sausage & praso!

And don’t leave without trying Mani oranges, figs, cinnamon EVERYTHING 😂 and a slice of galatopita. 🤍💙

Then take a walk along the port at night. 🌙

Mani isn't just a place on a map. It's my roots. 💙 Stay tuned for our next Gytheio part 2 where to stay! 🤍💙



Have you been to Gytheio? Let us know! 📍💙

09/05/2026

Mani, Greece — the place that you go back into time.
Mani is not simply a destination. It's a region with a very strong identity!! 💪

It's the rugged middle peninsula of the southern Peloponnese, stretching between the Laconian Gulf on the east and the Messenian Gulf on the west, with the Taygetos mountains running through it. At its southern end is Cape Tainaron the southernmost point of mainland Greece. 🇬🇷

And Mani has a reputation for being tough, intensely independent and deeply connected to family and land!! 💪

For years and years, the mountains and isolation helped the Maniots maintain a remarkable degree of independence from outside rulers. That history shaped everything from the stone houses to family, and traditions. Driving around Mani you will find many beautiful stone castles.

Why are there so many stone towers?

One of the things that immediately makes Mani look different from the rest of Greece is the tower houses! We love this about our homeland. 🪨

The Families built tall stone towers that could function as homes but also as defensive structures. Family and clan ties were incredibly important, and disputes between powerful families could sometimes become long-running conflicts.
That's why when you drive through Mani, you'll see these incredible stone villages, fortified homes and towers seemingly growing right out of the mountains.
And then you see...
the mountains drop into unbelievably blue water and nature.
That's Mani.
💙 The Maniot person:
When in Mani, we say "Geia sou koroni/ korona mou" Literally meaning hi my crown. An old saying I like to still use when I'm there.

What makes Mani so special isn't just its breathtaking landscape—it's the land, the people, the stories, the food, and the traditions. 👌

And Mani played an important role in the Greek War of Independence beginning in 1821. The Maniots were among the first to rise against Ottoman rule, and the region became an important center of the revolution. We celebrate our independence on March 17th before much of Greece does. 🙏

See you soon for more on . 💙🤍

Did you know Mani played a huge role in the Greek independence war? 💪

09/05/2026

Where is your family from in Greece? 🇬🇷 It’s one of those questions Greeks always seem to ask each other!

My answer? Mani, Greece! 💙🤍

But here’s the story: back in the 1940s, life was hard for my grandparents, so they took their three sons to Piraeus to build a better life for their family. My dad spent much of his younger years in Athens, but the roots of our family have always been in Mani.

Why do I want to do this Mani series? Because my dad is the only one left from his immediate family, and life is short. I want to keep my family’s spirit, stories, and memories alive for generations to come. 🙏

I also want to share the beauty of Mani with you — especially the places and little villages that aren’t always mentioned in travel magazines or the typical Greece guides.

If you’ve never been to Mani, I hope this new series convinces you to put it on your Greek travel list! 💙🤍🇬🇷 After all, it’s only about a three-hour journey south from Athens, and trust me, it’s worth making the time.

Join me as I take you along on my Back To My Roots: “In Mani” series, where I’ll share the places, stories, food, traditions, and memories that connect my family to this incredible part of Greece.

Have you been to Mani? 🇬🇷 Let us know in the comments. 💙🤍

09/01/2026

My friends ask me, how often do you think about Greece?
My answer: EVERYDAY!! 🇬🇷💙
September is always my favorite month to travel to Greece and I will tell you why! 🧿

1. Less tourists (for now) ☑️
2. The weather is perfect ☑️
3. The flights are a bit cheaper ☑️
4. You can find a bit cheaper rentals and accommodations ☑️
5. Let's keep September in Greece a secret for now. 😉🤣 ☑️

Stay tuned in for my Mani series! 🇬🇷

Kalo Mina se olous! Wishing you a beautiful September month filled with love, good health, and happiness. 💙🇬🇷🤍



What about you? Is Greece on your mind daily? Comment below.

08/28/2026

You’re sitting at a Greek taverna. What’s the FIRST thing you order? 🍷🫒🍋

08/28/2026

St. Fanourios, or Agios Fanourios, is a beloved saint in the Greek Orthodox tradition whose story is closely associated with the island of Rhodes. His name comes from the Greek word fanerono, meaning “to reveal,” and he is traditionally invoked when something has been lost or when we ask for something to be revealed. 🤍💙

Please see the recipe link 👇

Traditional Greek St. Fanourios Cake (Fanouropita) made with orange, semolina, raisins, cinnamon, walnuts, pecans, and brandy.

08/22/2026

🇬🇷 If you could pick ONE historical site in Greece as your favorite, which would it be? 🏛️

Tell us your favorite below! 👇💙

08/19/2026

Not one but two exciting Greek mezes on our Mediterranean Summer Series 👌💙🤍


Recipe link: 👇

Discover two delicious Greek meze recipes in our Mediterranean Series! Enjoy grilled zucchini and squash, plus a tasty tomato feta meze!

08/18/2026

A little fun today! 🇬🇷💙😂🌯

Sound on! 🔊

Every time I’m in Athens or Thessaloniki, I hear this… 😂✋

It’s pronounced “yee-ro,” not “GYRO.” Don’t pronounce the G! 🇬🇷

We always take our travelers to experience some of the best gyros on our adventures, but Thessaloniki is one of those cities you truly have to experience for yourself. There’s nothing quite like enjoying an authentic gyro there! 💙 Don't forget the ketchup and mustard! 🍅❤️💛

But for me personally, it’s all about “ap’ ola” — give me everything! 😂 Although, I’ll admit… I’m an Athens girl at heart, so I prefer mine with tzatziki and NO ketchup or mustard. You can’t take the Athens out of me! 😂🇬🇷

Featured: Me (Krystina) waiting patiently to eat this delicious gyro in Afytos. 🥰🥰

So tell me… how do you take your gyro? 👇🥙🇬🇷

How do you take your Gyro?

https://www.instagram.com/p/DcK28WMKOFv/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==